The Townie Boy Calendar and Other Ways to Make a Difference

City Dope

Must've been tough talking DJ Mahogany into taking his clothes off for the Townie Boy calendar.

This is the time of year when you can make a difference in all sorts of ways.

Model Citizen Salon's Shayne McBride, along with too many others to credit, has resurrected the long-dormant Townie Boy calendar.

Originally a fundraiser for the Athens Rape Crisis Center, the last edition in 1994 featured Michael Stipe and the late Vic Chesnutt.

This year's edition, benefiting Nuçi's Space, includes photos (some racy!) of a host of local heartthrobs, among them chefs Chuck Ramsey, Matt Palmerlee, Peter Dale and short-shorts aficionado Ken Manring; musicians Mike Mills, Michael Lachowski and Dan Geller; and politician-y types Kelly Girtz, Tim Denson and Russell Edwards, just to name a few.

The calendar launch party is Friday, Dec. 12 during happy hour at Old Pal, but you can pre-order at modelcitizensalon.com. The calendars will also be available for $20 at Avid Bookshop, Double Dutch Press, Dynamite and Frontier.

Film Athens, a networking and educational group for our nascent movie biz, is trying to raise $10,000 to purchase software and equipment for the Film Lab, a partnership with the Clarke County School District's Athens Community Career Academy that aims to train aspiring filmmakers. Learn more at support.filmathens.net.

On a sadder note, Ms. Ethel Collins, a fixture at the West Broad Market Garden, was forced to suddenly relocate from her home. The Athens Land Trust is selling "virtual sweet potato pies" to help pay her expenses. For a suggested contribution of $10, you'll receive a short documentary highlighting Ms. Ethel's contributions to the land trust's community garden program. Visit virtualsweetpotatopie.com.